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Map of Panama's narrow isthmus between two oceans

Maps of Panama

Panama's shape can be deceptive: two points may look close as the crow flies yet sit on opposite sides of the mountain spine without a direct road between them.

Panama links North and South America and has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The latest official administrative map comprises 10 provinces, 82 districts and 699 corregimientos, with comarcas integrated into the system.

For travellers we add the geography of the Canal, the mountain range and the principal transport corridors.

· SambaTravel

Political map of Panama's provinces and comarcas

10 provinces and comarcas

Panama's ten provinces are Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Coclé, Colón, Darién, Herrera, Los Santos, Panamá, Panamá Oeste and Veraguas. In addition, Indigenous comarcas have special administrative arrangements.

The official map matters, but on a journey it is often more useful to think in terms of coastline, elevation and transport corridor.

A mountain spine divides two coastlines

A mountainous backbone runs through much of the country. In the west, the highlands are most pronounced around Chiriquí and Boquete. On one side lies the Caribbean with Bocas del Toro, on the other the Pacific with Panama City, Azuero and Santa Catalina.

Cross-country links are relatively limited, so routes should be planned according to actual roads rather than the shortest line on a map.

Political map of Panama's provinces and comarcas

The Panama Canal is also physical geography

The Canal connects two oceans, but it functions through a large system of locks, lakes and waterways. Gatún Lake and the Canal watershed are therefore central parts of Panama's physical map, not just its transport history.

Panama City and Colón sit on opposite sides of the isthmus and are linked by road and railway along the Canal corridor.

West and east work very differently

Western Panama has the clearest tourism corridor between Panama City, Chiriquí/Boquete and Bocas del Toro. Azuero and Santa Catalina require detours towards the Pacific. Infrastructure becomes sparser to the east towards Darién.

The Pan-American Highway does not continue uninterrupted through the Darién Gap into Colombia, an important detail that an overview map can easily conceal.

Political map of Panama's provinces and comarcas

How we use maps of Panama

We begin with which coast and road corridor each destination belongs to. Panama City serves as the main hub, while Boquete–Chiriquí and Bocas can often be linked in a western sequence. Islands and more remote nature areas require boat or air transport.

Sources: the administrative division follows Instituto Geográfico Nacional Tommy Guardia and the updated political-administrative map for 2025.

Graphic showing Panama's provinces, Canal and coastlines

10 map facts about Panama

  • Panama has 10 provinces.
  • The official 2025 administrative map records 82 districts and 699 corregimientos.
  • Panama has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
  • The country shares land borders with Costa Rica and Colombia.
  • The Panama Canal uses a system of locks, lakes and channels across the isthmus.
  • Panama City lies on the Pacific side and Colón on the Caribbean side.
  • Boquete lies in the highlands of Chiriquí Province.
  • Bocas del Toro lies on the Caribbean coast in northwestern Panama.
  • The Pan-American Highway is interrupted by the Darién Gap towards Colombia.
  • Mountains and limited cross-country roads can make travel times very different from straight-line distances.